Lufthansa flight crew union talks stalled

Deutsche Lufthansa has stated its desire to avoid another industrial action after the union representing the airline’s flight crew broke off negotiations over retirement benefits last week.

According to Bettina Volkens, Lufthansa’s head of personnel, while the Frankfurt-based airline is operationally prepared for a walkout by its pilots, the airline will work to bring them back to the negotiation table and will send a letter to the Vereinigung Cockpit union today.

Volkens told German media: “We’re prepared to make compromises and don’t understand why negotiations were declared a failure. We want to avoid a conflict and resume talks.”

The main argument between the two sides revolves around bridge payments to pilots who traditionally retired at age 55, which Lufthansa argues is “a remnant from the past that no longer represents the current status quo.”

The airline has been given no indication if or when industrial action may occur.